As readers of my recent UA/AC report will know, I had to race back to Australia to organise my Dad's funeral. As he lived in Hobart, that entailed a MEL-HBA trip.

Having parked in long-term parking (no way I'd ask someone else to give me a lift to the airport that early ... and no worth it for only a few days either) a shuttle bus arrived a few secs later, but the driver waited for me. As we approached the terminals, he asked over the PA: "Are there any Virgins on board?" There were, but not me.

QF1651 717 5A Wed 1/10 0720-0830 (actual 0729-0821)
What a mess boarding was. The gate readers stopped working part way through, so they stopped all boarding, went and took boarding passes from all people already on the plane and took boarding passes from the rest of us too. Breakfast (yes, you stupid US carriers, it is possible to have brekky on a 50 min flight in Y!) was muesli, milk, orange juice, a shortbread biscuit, tea and coffee. Next to me was a sales guy for a company that provides card locks to hotels.

QF1662 717 4A Sat 4/10 1105-1215 (actual 1115-1213)
No traffic, so got to airport an hour before boarding time. Flight was uneventful. Lunch was an "apple & spice twist" with a mandarin and the usual drink selection.